Optical Storage Types: Blu-ray Disc
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The Blu-ray Disc is a digital optical media format similar to the HD-DVD, its main competition. Blu-ray discs are next-generation optical disks, able to hold high-definition video and other high-density storage.
History
On January 2006, the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), a group of IT industry companies, announced a release date of May 23 for the new format, a date that has been moved back several times already.
Presently, leading the camp of Blu-ray adopters are Sony, HP, Dell, Pioneer, Philips, Panasonic, Samsung, Apple, LG-Electronics, and Mitsubishi Electric from the IT industry, and Electronic Arts, MGM, Walt Disney, 20th Century Fox, and Vivendi from the entertainment industry.
On March 2003, Sony unveiled the first Blu-ray recorder, followed by JVC and Samsung products on September of the same year. Sony's PlayStation 3 game console, set to be released on mid-November 2006, will be equipped with a 2x Blu-ray drive. In addition, a number of films will be released in Blu-ray format, such as Ice Age, The Matrix trilogy, Terminator 3, and Armageddon.
The Basics
A single-sided Blu-ray disc can hold 25 GB of storage, while a dual-sided one can store 50 GB. Both storage capacities are larger than those of the HD-DVD. The Blu-ray disc's size is similar to that of the CD and the DVD – 120 mm in diameter.
The disc's name can be explained by the laser that is uses – a 405 nm wavelength blue layer, which is also employed by the HD-DVD. Blu-ray's 54 Mbps transfer rate is superior to both the HD-DVD's (36Mbps) and the DVD's (11.1 Mbps).
As a counterpart of the HD-DVD's iHD Interactive Format, Blu-ray will use the HDMV, as well as Java software support to implement interactive menus.
Strengths and Weaknesses
While the entertainment industry lends great strength to the HD-DVD format, the Blu-ray disc has the backing of the majority of the world’s electronic giants. The PlayStation 3's use of the format is also set to bolster its campaign. What's more, the Blu-ray disc is technically superior to the HD-DVD, possessing a faster transfer rate and storage capacity. However, this seemingly higher quality comes at a price – Blu-ray discs are more expensive and slower to manufacture. Here, the HD-DVD holds the decisive edge.
Next: HD-DVD
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